The two-day Educational Conference held on 10th and 11th April 2025 at Inspiration, Guwahati, Assam, brought together thirty Education Secretaries representing various provinces, congregations, and dioceses from across the North Eastern region. This significant gathering was organized by the North Eastern Bishops’ Conference Education Commission under the leadership of Bishop Paul Mattekkat of Diphu.

The conference revolved around the theme “Preserving Identity and Planning the Future”, highlighting both the unique identity of Catholic educational institutions and the strategic direction for the future.

The conference was inaugurated on 10th April at 3:30 p.m. with a short opening session. The two main resource persons were Fr. Maria Charles SDB and Fr. Joseph Manipadam SDB, both of whom brought valuable insights, experience, and depth to the discussions.

During the sessions, the resource persons addressed various concerns and challenges faced by Catholic schools in the region. Discussions focused on best practices in school management, maintaining the Catholic identity of institutions, and addressing the growing challenges in the educational landscape. The participants actively engaged in group discussions and interactive sessions, which became the highlight of the event.

Some of the key issues discussed included:

Implementation and impact of the Right to Education (RTE) Act

Affiliation-related challenges

Minority certificate issues

Appar ID difficulties

Government interference in the functioning of minority-run schools

Participants also shared individual and collective experiences from their schools, leading to a deeper understanding of region-specific challenges. Several suggestions were made to plan a unified way forward, ensuring quality education while upholding the values and identity of Catholic education.

From the Shillong Province, Fr. Babu Stephen, Fr. Joachim Ekka, and Fr. Sawlus took part in the conference, contributing actively to the proceedings.

The conference concluded on 11th April at 4:00 p.m. with all members expressing satisfaction and appreciation for the enriching experience. The event was a fruitful platform for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration, and was deemed worthwhile and inspiring by all who attended.